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Council tax debtors given suspended jail terms
Date published: 27 January 2012
SIX residents have been hauled before a court for failing to pay council tax.
Oldham Council launched the prosecutions after numerous requests and warnings to pay up went unheeded.
The six debtors were all found guilty of culpable neglect by a council tax committal court.
They were: Lisa Travis (36) now of Broadway, Chadderton, sentenced to 30 days in prison suspended and to pay £100 a month.
Ross White (39), now of Dukinfield, sentenced to 30 days in prison suspended and to pay £40 a week.
Julie Ann Warren, of Lydgate Drive, Salem, sentenced to 60 days in prison suspended and to pay £150 a month.
Roger Simpson, now of Shillingford Road, Chadderton, sentenced to 60 days in prison suspended and to pay £140 a month.
David Evans (42), now of Edith Street, Hathershaw, sentenced to 60 days in prison suspended and to pay £20 a fortnight.
Martin King (52), of Longfellow Crescent, Sholver, sentenced to 60 days in prison suspended and to pay £5 a week.
Council tax committal courts are used as a last resort to ensure that those who refuse to pay are brought to justice.
Councillor Abdul Jabbar, cabinet member for finance and human resources, said: “Those who choose not to pay their Council Tax should know that the local authority will use all available methods to recover outstanding debts.
Comments
@daddyD. One has to assume that the £5 a week is related to the ability to pay or perhaps you would like the guy inside anyway.
I have a friend who gave her partner money to pay the council tax, he didn't pay any of it, and later left her & moved away. She is now liable for the entire council tax bill, including his share. The council are supposed to make a committed search for him, but as you can imagine they don't try too hard when they can take the money from another.
As usual the government makes laws for itself which would be regarded as unfair if a private company wrote it into a contract.
@JMTS For me it should council officers in court for culpable neglect.Council tax bills doubled under the last Labour government and the levels of financial waste became criminal.
Better financial controls and prudent spendign would mena lower ore affordable bills and lessen the need for such actions. We should all pay our way,but those spending the money should respect the public purse.
Perhaps if these people had been on the dole ,they wouldnt be in the position they are now--makes you think doesnt it.
As for Councillor Abdul Jabbar comments--Well!
no sympathy they probably spend more on beer fags sky tv and going out and treat council tax like it doesnt matter.
Have Your Say
£5 a week I will have some of that.
By daddydave @ 27/01/2012 16:50:06